By Brenda Groves
The Post Newspaper Contributing Writer
Do you know your rights as a citizen of this country?
As I’ve mentioned before, I didn’t receive the full benefit from my childhood education because I suffered from SLD.
Selective Learning Disorder.
So for the most part I remained ignorant of some essential information, such as, what my US citizenship entitled me to.
I vaguely remember studying about The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, and perhaps the Bill of Rights, but I must have checked out somewhere when we discussed this because I don’t recall much of it.
Most of the knowledge that I retained about my rights came from “Adam 12,” “Dragnet,” “The Mod Squad,” “Starsky & Hutch,” and “Hawaii Five-O.”
You know. These rights.
“You have the right to remain silent and anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law ….” (Lol!)
Worldly knowledge can be good and is necessary in all areas in this physical life. But to limit or exclude spiritual knowledge of God through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ means eternal death (eternally separated from God).
We must know our rights in the physical world, and especially as Christians, in the spiritual world around us.
The Bible states … “To be carnally minded is death (primarily focused on your five senses- what you see, taste, hear, smell or feel), but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”
As a US citizen I am guaranteed to have certain rights. (Which we are in jeopardy of losing, but I’m not going there today.)
And if you are a person who has been re-born into the kingdom of God, you have also been given certain “birth” rights.
“For many walks, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.” Phil 3:18-21
I want to share some of them with you now.
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12-13
You have the right to maintain peace of mind, which comes and abides in us as a fruit of the Holy Spirit.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…” Gal. 5:22-23 (And long suffering does not mean we have to suffer physically or emotionally. But that’s another column:)
We have the right to know and speak the wisdom of God through the knowledge of His word made alive to us through His Holy Spirit living in us.
“But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,” “But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.” “For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Cor. 2:7, 10-12, 16.
We each have the right, (precious gift) to be baptized in the Holy Spirit and operate in the gifts of the Holy Spirit including speaking in tongues.
“Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order.” 1 Cor. 14:39-40
Oh, and we have the right to ” … come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Heb. 4:15-16
We have the right to be healed!
“For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, an example, that you should follow His steps:
“Who committed no sin,
Nor was deceit found in His mouth.”
who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.” 1 Peter 2:22-24
Through Christ Jesus we have the God given right to be loved, be healed, be whole and be Holy.
You can have all the degrees in the world but without an intimate relationship with God through Christ Jesus, and exercising your rights here on earth, the purpose for your life/and destiny will be unfulfilled.
“And this is eternal life, that they may know (intimacy with) You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” John 17:3
And rest assured that these rights will not be taken away from the governing Power who ensured them to us. These rights are written and signed in the Blood of Jesus and the His word is settled in heaven. (Psalms 119.89)
“Though heaven and earth will pass away, the Word of God will never pass away.” (Matt. 24:35)
(Parenthesis mine. All scripture taken from NKJV)
Contact Brenda Groves at: bkgroves1996@yahoo.com
